Railway-switch.



PATENTED SEPT. 18,1906- 0. E. McDONALD.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED nmzs, 1906.

2 SHEETS SHBBT l.

WITNESSES:

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hmd/fa PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906-' G. E. MCDONALD.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED mmzs, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

//v VENTOI? Czar/ml. J1 @wzaZaZ ATTORNEYS Tn: NORRIS FETERS 50., WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED s mras PATENT OFFICE. CHARLES EDWARD MCDONALD, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES EDWARD Mc- DONALD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Railway-Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact des'cription.

This invention relates to railway-switches and the object of the invention is to produce a switch which is so constructed that it will enable a car on the main track to pass from the main track in either direction.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan showing a portion of the track and road-bed at the switch. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 and 2 represent baseplates, which are rigidly attached to the cross-ties 3 at the point where the switch is constructed. 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent the rails of the main track, and these rails are rigidly attached to the crossties and to the platesl and 2, as shown. The rails 3 and 5 are in alinement, while the rails 4 and 6 are in alinement. Between the rails 3 and 5 I provide a main-rail section 7 and between the main Tails 4 and 6 a similar mainrail section 8. These main rails 7 and 8 are not connected in any manner with the rails '3 and 4, but are connected, by means of joints 9 and 10, with the Tails 5 and 6. In forming these joints 9 and 10 I provide oppositelydisposed fish-plates 11, which are bolted to the webs of the alining rails, as indicated, and the outer extremities, which lie against the rails 5 and 6, are attached, by means of vertical bolts 12, to the bed-plates 1 and 2.

I provide outer switch-rails 13 and 14 ,which are preferably slightly curved, as indicated, so

as to present their convex faces toward the main track. These rails are connected rigidly with the rails 7 and 8, respectively, by means of blocks 15, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. and 14 converge or incline inwardly toward the main track, and their extremities 16 normally lie slightly displaced laterally from the rails 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 1. I provide also inner switch-rails 17 and 18, which are preferably bowed or curved, as shown, so as to present their convex faces outwardly toward the rails 7 and 8.

The rails 13 and 18 constitute continuations of the right-hand switch or branch track, which is formed by the rails 19 and 20.

' These rails 19 and 20 therefore aline with the rails 13 and 18, but are rigidly attached to the cross-ties or to the plates 1 and 2. The rail 13 connects with the rail 19 throughajoint 21, composed of fish-plates 22. The extremities of these fish-plates which are adjacent to the rail 19 are rigidly attached thereto by means of vertical bolts 23, but the extremities of the fish-plates which lie near the rail 13 are not directly attached to the rail. They simply extend beyond the edges of the rail and are attached rigidly to the plate 1 by means of suitable bolts 24.

Connection between the rails 18 and 20 comprises a joint 25, formed of fish-plates, which are attached, by means of bolts 26, rigidly to the plate 2 and to the rail 20. The rail 17 and the rail 14 constitute continuations of a branch track leading to the left and formed by the rails 27 and 28. The rail 27 is in alinement with the rail 17 and connected thereto by a joint 29. This joint 29 isin all respects similar to the joints25, just described. The rail 14 is connected to the rail 28 by a joint 30, which is similar in all respects to the joint 21, described above.

Beneath the base-plates 1 and 2 transverse switch-bars 31 and 32 are arranged, as indicated. Above the switch-bar 31 I provide a special block 15 which is formed in its under side with a downwardly-projecting pintle 31 which is attached to the bar, as shown. This block 15? is disposed between the rails 8 and 14 and is rigid therewith, as will be readily understood. In the middle These switch-rails 13 of the block is attached a link 33, which connects the bar 31 with the flange of the inner switch-rail 17.

The special block 15 is arranged between the rails 13 and 7, and this block is formed with a downwardly-projecting pintle 32 which is attached to the bar 32. This switch-bar 32 carries a link 34, which is attached to the same near its middle point, and this link extends in the opposite direction from the link 33 and is attached at its outer extremity to the flange of the inner switchrail 18. The pintles formed on the blocks 15 and 15 pass downwardly through slots 35, which are formed transversely in the plates 1 and 2.

In order to facilitate theattachment of the links 33 and 34 to the bars,-the upper sides of the bars are preferably provided with blocks 36, as indicated in Fig. 2, the

said blocks pro ecting up in the space between the plates 1 and .2.

Adjacentjto the outer edges of the rails 13 and 14 I provide braces 37, which are rigidly attached to the upper sides of the plates 1 and 2, and these braces operate as stops, so as to limit. tne outward movement of the rails 13 and 14, as will be readily understood.

When these rails are in contact with these stops, the rails 7 and 8 are in alinement, re-

speotively, with the rails 3 and 4.

In Fig. 1 the track is represented as straightthat is, a train could pass the switch and continue on the main track.

In this connection it should be understood that the train is expected to approach from the right. If it is desired to have the train pass to the right-hand branchthat is, upon the track formed by the rails 19 and 20the switch-bar 32 will be drawn upon so as to bring the rail 18 over against the inner face of the rail 4. At the same time the moving switch-bar 32 will displace the rails 13 and 7, bringing the free end of the rail 13 into alinement with the rail 3. With the switch held in this position the approaching train will evidently pass onto the rails 19 and 20. If it is desired to move the train onto the opposite branch formed by the rails 27 and 28, the switch-bar 31 is operated so as to move the rail 17 against the inner face of the rail 3. This movement simultaneously displaces the rail 8 and moves the rail 14 into alinement with the rail 4.

In moving the rails 7 and 13 in the manner described the joint 9 constitutes a pivot or axis of rotation for the rails. In this connection it should be remembered that the rails 7 and 13 are rigidly connected by the blocks 15. By reason of the fact that the motion is upon an axis allowance must be made for a certain amount of longitudinal slip or play at the joint 21. For this reason no rigid. connection is made between'the rail 13 and the joint 21. For a similar reason no rigid connection is made between the rail 14 and the joint 30. In this way as the parts of the switch are moved the ends of the rails 13 and 14 move in and out of the joints 21 and 30, so as to accommodate themselves to their new position.

Attention is called to the fact that the extremities of the rails 17 and 18 project beyond or overlap the rails 3 and 4. The extremities 38 of these rails 17 and 18 are may make connection with the rails when pressed thereagainst. In order to insure that a good connection will be made, I prefer to attach fish-plates 39 at the inner extremities of the rails 3 and 4 on the outer side thereof only.

In practice where there is only one branch or switch leading from the main line the parts of the switch which would lead to the opposite branch are omitted, so that the switch becomes a single switch instead of a double switch, as illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In railway construction, in combination, a main track, a switch mounted therein having main rails alining with the rails of said main track, a branch track leading from said main track, an outer switch-rail in alinement with the outer rail of said branch track and rigidly attached to said main rail, an inner switch-rail alining with the inner rail of said branch track, a switch-bar connecting the free extremity of said inner switch-rail with said main rail and said outer switchrail and affording means for shifting said switch.

2. In railway construction, in combination, a main track and branch tracks leading therefrom, main rails normally in alinement with the rails of said main track, outer sw tchrails rigidly connected with said main rails and alining with the outer rails of said branch tracks, inner switch-rails in alinement with the inner rails of said branch tracks, a pair of switch-bars extending transversely beneath the track, means for connecting one of said switch-bars with one of said main rails and the said inner switch-rails lying opposite the same, and means for connecting the other switch-bar with the other main rail, and the other inner switch-rail lying opposite.

3. In railway construction, in combination, a main track, branch tracks extended therefrom in opposite directions, main rails normally in alinement with the rails of said main track, and attached to the same at one extremity, outer rails in alinement with the outer rails of said branch tracks, and making a sliding connection therewith, means for rigidly connecting said outer switch-rails respectively with said main rails, inner switchrails in alinement With the inner rails of the said branch tracks, switch-bars extending transversely beneath said main track, links connecting said switch-bars respectively with said inner switchrails, and connection be- [0 tween said bars and said main rails.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing w tnesses.

' CHARLES EDWARD MCDONALD.

Witnesses:

GRACE M. ODONNELL, JOHN D. WILSON. 

